Mobile services in university libraries in China

Abstract

With the development of information technology, mobile phones are gaining popularity quickly in recent years and become indispensable in people's everyday life. People who visited libraries to find specific pieces of information in the past are now able to find that information online. The vast majority of people with specific information need no longer visit libraries. But their need for information is still there and is expanding. As the spectrum of human need grows, the opportunities for librarians to meet these needs are also growing. The libraries will need to be designed to accommodate the changing needs of its readers. Mobile library services can meet people's needs for information in a fast-paced society. They are an extension of digital library in the mobile communication network. This paper attempted to understand the present status of mobile library services in college and university libraries enjoyed by our readers and their potential needs through a survey made in our college, analyzed the opportunities and challenges libraries facing in the provision of mobile library services. Digital library and mobile communication technology has laid solid foundation for the development of mobile library services. To meet readers' information needs in a fast-paced society, some suggestions are made in order to provide better mobile library services.